Unraveling the ferroelectric switching mechanisms in ferroelectric pure and La doped HfO(2 )epitaxial thin films

Epitaxial orthorhombic phase La doped HfO2 films are promising for achieving robust ferroelectric polarization without wake-up effect. However, lowering the coercive field is crucial for achieving low-power memory devices. In this work, we have investigated the influence of the La content effect on the structural and ferroelectric properties of epitaxial HfO2 thin films. We show that while the remanent polarization is optimum for 2-5 at. % La-doped HfO2 films, the coercive field is decreased with La doping. The experimental work is supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations which show that the polarization switching in epitaxial La:HfO2 films can be understood based on the synergetic contribution of the presence of a non-ferroelectric monoclinic phase and the La doping itself that causes a reduction of the nucleation and DW motion energy barriers for the crossing path, which makes it more probable than the non-crossing one.Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innova- tion (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) , through the Severo Ochoa FUNFUTURE (CEX2019-000917-S) , PID2020-112548RB-I00 and PID2019-107727RB-I00 projects, and from Generalitat de Catalunya (2021 SGR 00804) is acknowledged. We also acknowledge project TED2021-130453B-C21, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and European Union NextGeneration EU/PRTR. This work was supported by: (i) the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding Contract UIDB/04650/2020; (ii) exploratory project 2022.01740.PDTC and (iii) the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation pro- gramme under grant agreement No 958174 (M-ERA-NET3/0003/2021-NanOx4EStor) . J. P. B. S. also thanks FCT for the contract under the Institutional Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus - 2021 Call (CEE- CINST/00018/2021) . A.S. also acknowledges FCT for the PhD grant with reference 2022.13796.BD

Primary pleural myxoid liposarcoma: case report and literature review

Myxoid liposarcoma is a histological subtype of malignant tumors within the group of sarcomas. It is more common in men between the ages of 40 and 50 years. Diagnosis is difficult because they are usually asymptomatic lesions, computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance are the studies of choice. The gold of treatment is surgical resection with free margins. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have shown a good response. A 46-year-old male was detected incidental mediastinal lesion by radiography, CT scan showed a hypodense lesion in the right hemithorax that extended to the left hemithorax, infiltrating the diaphragm and large vessels. The patient underwent an exploratory thoracotomy, finding a multilobulated tumor and mucous content approximately 600 ml, adjacent structures were infiltrated, so complete resection was not possible. Subsequently, adjuvant chemotherapy given. The histopathological diagnosis was myxoid liposarcoma. Myxoid liposarcoma is a malignant lesion. The primary pleural origin is rare. Surgical resection with free margins has a good prognosis. Due to advanced disease, a complete resection in this case was not possible, that compromised the patient prognosis

GPs are from Mars, Administrators are from Venus: The Role of Misaligned Occupational Dispositions in Inhibiting Mandated Role Change

Research on mandated occupational role change focuses on jurisdictional conflict to explain change failure. Our study of the English National Health Service highlights the role of occupational dispositions in shaping how mandated role change is implemented by members of multiple occupational groups. We find that tension stemming from misaligned dispositions may emerge as members of different occupations interact during their role change implementation efforts. Depending on dispositional responses to tension, change may fail as members of the different occupations avoid interactions. This suggests that effective role change can be elusive even in the initial absence of conflicting occupational interests

Physiological, morphological characteristics and blood profile of female elite Brazilian soccer players according to position

The main goal of this study was to identify the performance parameters and blood profile found among female soccer players. The second aim was to examine if there were any systematic differences between players assigned to different playing positions. Thirty-six players (age: 23.7 ± 3.5 y; weight: 61.9 ± 5.7 kg; height: 165.7± 6.2 cm) underwent a set of laboratory tests (cardiopulmonary exercise test, skinfold measurements, Wingate test, sit-and-reach test, and blood biochemical tests). The following results were verified: maximal oxygen uptake (53±3.9 mL.kg-1.min-1), second ventilatory threshold (11.5 ± 0.8 km.h-1), body fat (14.1 ± 2.9%), Wingate anaerobic test (peak power: 9.5 ± 0.8 w.kg-1; mean power: 7.3 ± 0.4 w.kg-1 and fatigue index: 55.5 ± 4.9%),  flexibility test [sit-and-reach]  (18.1 ± 2.9 cm) and biochemical parameters of blood (Hb:13.9 ± 0.3 g.dL-1; iron: 85.2 ± 12.6 µ.dL-1; calcium: 9.2±0.5 mg.dL-1;  total cholesterol: 204.7 ± 34.7 mg.dL-1; HDL-c: 50.7± 3.6 mg.dL-1; LDL-c: 125.8± 23.3 mg.dL-1; triglycerides: 96.8±18.5 mg.dL-1). In conclusion, the current results indicate that present elite players' physiological characteristics are similar to those previously shown, despite the rapid changes of the female soccer game worldwide. However, data showed that different playing positions had different physiological and anthropometrics differences.

Ferroelectric orthorhombic ZrO2 thin films achieved through nanosecond laser annealing

A new approach for the stabilization of the ferroelectric orthorhombic ZrO2 films is demonstrated through nanosecond laser annealing (NLA) of as-deposited Si/SiOx/W(14 nm)/ZrO2(8 nm)/W(22 nm), grown by ion beam sputtering at low temperatures. The NLA process optimization is guided by COMSOL multiphysics simulations. The films annealed under the optimized conditions reveal the presence of the orthorhombic phase, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction, electron backscatter diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Macroscopic polarization-electric field hysteresis loops show ferroelectric behavior, with saturation polarization of 12.8 mu C cm(-2), remnant polarization of 12.7 mu C cm(-2) and coercive field of 1.2 MV cm(-1). The films exhibit a wake-up effect that is attributed to the migration of point defects, such as oxygen vacancies, and/or a transition from nonferroelectric (monoclinic and tetragonal phase) to the ferroelectric orthorhombic phase. The capacitors demonstrate a stable polarization with an endurance of 6.0 x 10(5) cycles, demonstrating the potential of the NLA process for the fabrication of ferroelectric memory devices with high polarization, low coercive field, and high cycling stability.A.P.S.C. and M.C.I. contributed equally to this work. This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding Contract UIDB/04650/2020. This work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 958174 (M-ERA-NET3/0003/2021-NanOx4EStor). M. C. I. and C. G. acknowledge the financial support by a grant of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS/CCCDI - UEFISCDI, project number COFUND-M-ERANET-3-NanOx4Estor, within PNCDI III and POC 332/390008/29.12.2020-SMIS 109522. The authors acknowledge the CERIC-ERIC Consortium for access to experimental facilities and financial support under proposals 20202037, 20202038, and 20192055. The authors would also like to thank Jose Santos for technical support in the Thin Film Laboratory at CF-UM-UP. J.L.M-D. thanks the ERC grant, EU-H2020-ERC-ADG #882929, EROS. And the Royal Academy of Engineering, grant CIET1819_24. MOH thanks the Herchel Smith foundation of Cambridge for a research fellowship. This work made use of the University of Cambridge Wolfson Electron Microscopy Suite

Roadmap on ferroelectric hafnia- and zirconia-based materials and devices

Ferroelectric hafnium and zirconium oxides have undergone rapid scientific development over the last decade, pushing them to the forefront of ultralow-power electronic systems. Maximizing the potential application in memory devices or supercapacitors of these materials requires a combined effort by the scientific community to address technical limitations, which still hinder their application. Besides their favorable intrinsic material properties, HfO2–ZrO2 materials face challenges regarding their endurance, retention, wake-up effect, and high switching voltages. In this Roadmap, we intend to combine the expertise of chemistry, physics, material, and device engineers from leading experts in the ferroelectrics research community to set the direction of travel for these binary ferroelectric oxides. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art and offer readers an informed perspective of where this field is heading, what challenges need to be addressed, and possible applications and prospects for further development